Cambridgeshire haulier Mark Doel Transport has purchased two Renault Magnum 500.25 tractors, citing living space as a key reason for the deal. The trucks replace a Mercedes-Benz Actros Megaspace and an MAN TGX with XXL cab.
Mark Doel, director, explains: "The drivers are away Monday to Friday and, as we all know, there are no facilities
in this country for drivers, so we needed somewhere for our staff to feel comfortable," he says.
The vehicles are fitted with Renault's Optidriver automated transmission, which Doel praises: "I thought [Daf's ZF-built] AS-Tronic was the best, but Optidriver is something else," he says.
Fuel economy is around 7mpg, he says, but he would like to see that improve once the trucks are run in. However, he concedes they are matching the rest of the mixed fleet.
"I always spec high horsepower with this type of work. With the [large] gap behind the cab to the containers, it's not good going through the air, it's like a brick, so the horsepower is high to keep it moving," he says.
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